You know that voice in your head that seems to always have something to say, no matter what you do? No, you’re not crazy, everyone has it. Some people’s inner critic are louder and more persuasive than others, while it seems like successful artists don’t have an inner critic at all. (totally not true!) If you’re an artist that’s looking for ways to quiet your inner critic, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got a few simple tricks that will help you draw and paint without interference.

It starts with acceptance

Your inner critic is here to stay – let’s make that clear. No matter what you do, you can’t actually get rid of the voice in your head. The good thing is you can make it quieter. So acknowledge it, get to know it, and then disregard it. This voice is not you, so it’s okay to ignore it. The voice typically says “you’re so bad at drawing” or “you can’t paint, why don’t you stop.” Notice how it’s talking at you, as if it’s its own person. Well, just like any other person, you can kick them out of the room and lock the door. If it finds its way inside again, that’s okay! You can do it again.

Did you know you can develop selective listening? You’ll use it a lot with your inner critic. It can babble day and night, and you’ll smile and nod, letting the words of destruction bounce off of you. We understand this is easier said than done. Training yourself to ignore your inner critic can take some time, but the hard work pays off. Once you know how paint without an inner critic, you’ll experience how much happier you are as an artist.

Work with others

Your inner critic loves when you work alone. With no outside positive reinforcements, your inner critic can run rampant, saying anything it wants, knowing you are more prone to believing it. Why do you think our studio is group based? Why does every class of ours have an instructor in it? This is to challenge that voice inside your head. You’ll also see that you aren’t alone – every single person, artists or not, has an internal critic.

Another great reason to work with other artists is so you can get inspired. Develop an inner cheerleader that gets you excited about projects and what you could to push yourself as an artist.

Crank up the volume

If your inner voice has a megaphone, and it seems impossible to shut it up, it may be because it’s basking in silence. If that’s the case, turn on some jams and tune it out. This is an effective technique we use in MasterClasses. We’ve turned the music on so you can’t hear your inner critic. Turning on music is a fast and easy way to get rid of your inner critic.

Use these tips in combination, and you’ll find that your inner critic won’t have as much input on your art making as before. Free yourself from the negative opinions that voice presents! Make art because it makes you happy. Don’t let that inner critic tell you anything but positive comments. And always remember to have fun!